We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Roza Melendez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Roza, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
Originally, I did not plan to becoming an artist. I wanted to be a high school Spanish teacher so I got my bachelors degree from UWG. Due to a family emergency, (soon after graduating from the University), I had to move across the country to California (where they do not honor out of state credentials) so my Georgia bachelors degree was essentially useless.
I’ve always had a love for photography but it was “just a hobby” until I had nothing else. I started to take photos of my friends and posting on my social media to get the word out while I was learning to perfect my art. I was shocked to find out how quickly I started to book shoots and eventually weddings and newborns. I got hooked and was making more money than any job I’ve done previously doing something I absolutely loved. It’s a win, win.
Photography opened the door to meeting amazing people, creating lasting memories, and allowed me to create a scheudle around my family so I don’t have to miss any special momements. I was able to raise my children, while photographing weddings a few days a month. My husband took care of the kids when I had weddings or photography events. I edited at night or while my kids were in school. They never realized that their mommy had a full time job because I was always with them, doing fun activities, building a strong family unit. I wouldn’t trade this for the world.
Am I happy as an artist? Absolutely!! Not only do I get to fill my creative passions, but I get get paid to do them. Does it get any better than that? I cannot think of another carrer that would be more satisfying.
Do I wonder what it would be like to have a “regular job”? That would be, worst case scenario. I’m so blessed to do what I do and the beautiful carrer that blossomed out of nowhere, I do not wish to have a regular job. Did I plan on being an artist? No, but boy am I happy that things did go “acording to my plan” because I would not have stumbled upon such a remarkable journey with photography. As Steve Jobs once said “the only way to do great work is to love what you do” and I couldn’t agree more.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was born in Ukraine during the fall of communism, came to America in 1997 as a refugee with my family. I’ve always heard of the “American dream” but I didn’t think it was possible for me.
Fast forward a decade, and I was creating the “american dream’ for myself. I graduated high school (with honors) got a University degree as an educator, but I decided to turn all of this down to become a wedding photographer.
The very first time I realized my love for wedding photography was after getting photos back from my wedding. The way it transported me back to that day just from looking at photographs was undescribable. I felt beautiful, my love story was captured with so much romance, and the candid smiles and little details all painted such a beautiful picture, I wanted to recreate that for someone else. I knew I could do a better job, I wanted my photos to be “magazine worthy” so I decided to give it a go.
I started educating myself through books and the internet all about photography. The lighitng, the equipment, the posing, the business side of things, at first it all seemed overwhelming, but as I began to put my learning into practice, things started to click and make sense. People loved my photos and started booking me to be their photographer. As I started getting more confident in my craft, my clientele and my reputation grew. My photographs began to get published in magazines and I started booking at luxury weddings venues that I never dreamed of photographing. It is truly a dream come true and I’m still shocked to this day that I get to call this my “job”.
I also recently opened up a photography studio where I get to document newborns and do some studio photography. This is a new adventure, but I am exited to get to learn and grow in this filed of photography. There is always so much to learn and so many different ways to get creative and I’m ready to embrace it all.
What sets me apart from others in this field is my passion for photography and for human connection. Photogrpahy is not just a job for me, I truly try to capture something magical everytime I shoot. I look for little twinkles of oportunities while documenting and creating masterpieces that stop people in their tracks and ask “who took this photo?” This is still my greatest form of advetising (word of mouth) from previous clients. I don’t even have to ask them to spread my name or to tag me in their socials, they do it graciously on their own because of the experience I was able to create for them, which makes my heart smile. Also a great number of my previous wedding clients become my maternity and newborn clients later down the road and for them to trust me again with such a special memory is truly a gift. I could not be more happy to know that my photos bring joy to someone else and that they cherish them.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
My parents did not understand the value of that my work. They seen my camera as a toy and my carreer as a vein carreer that does not serve a “real puorpose”. They grew up in the days of hard labor and any job that is consired “creative” is for “the rich who have money to waste”. They did not understand why I was giving up my “guaranteed” education degree for a “project”. They were holding their breath for me to fail.
But I never did. I started to gain more momemtum and their lack of faith in me only propelled me to try harder, to learn faster to prove them wrong (in the most loving way). I knew that I had something special, and I coudnt exlpain it to someone who did not value my art, but with time, they started to realize the importance of my work. I was preserving moments of history for families and people were very happy with my craft.
My parents now understand that even though my hands are not constantly bleeding or blistered and my feet don’t ache, my work still matters and it’s not always an “easy job”, I work hard, and even though it’s not physical labor, I still pour my heart and soul into my work, which is why people keep coming back and why my bills keep getting paid.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is providing clients with lasting memories that they will cherish forever, When I walk into clients homes, and see my photos all over their walls, that brings me so much joy.
Since I typically document the speical milestones (weddings and newborns), it brings me so much joy knowing those memories will be forever cherished and looked back on and passed on from generation to generation.
Contact Info:
- Website: rozamelendezphotography.com
- Instagram: @rozamelendezphotography
Image Credits
Roza Melendez